Innovative Learning Solutions

Name: Nature of Learning Grant Program Offers Support for Outdoor Classroom Programs

Sponsor: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Deadline: 6/15/2009

Amount: varies

Type: Environment, Social & Economic, Education

Description: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is accepting applications from organizations interested in initiating a Nature of Learning program in their communities.

The Nature of Learning is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System’s community-based environmental education initiative. The program uses National Wildlife Refuges as outdoor classrooms to promote a greater understanding of local conservation issues, encourage an interdisciplinary approach to learning, and utilize field experiences and student-led stewardship projects to connect classroom lessons to real world issues. The program also involves a partnership among local schools, community groups, natural resource professionals, and local businesses.

Schools or nonprofit organizations, including “Friends” groups, Cooperative and Interpretive Associations, Audubon Chapters, etc., are eligible to apply for funding. Programs must involve a partnership among a local school(s), community group (e.g., Refuge Support Group), and National Wildlife Refuge. Projects must be completed within eighteen months.

First year start-up grants are available for up to $10,000. Second year follow-up grants of up to $5,000 are available to support continued implementation of the Nature of Learning program. Matching contributions are not required; however, strong preference will be given to applications that leverage the grant award with contributions from project partners.

Visit the NFWF Web site for complete program guidelines.

Website: Link to RFP

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Name: Share Our Strength to Offer Great American Bake Sale Grants to Help Fight Childhood Hunger

Sponsor: Share Our Strength

Deadline: 9/30/2009

Amount: varies

Type: Social & Economic

Description: Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale grants program seeks to help ensure that low-income children receive nutritious food during critical times when they are out of school and particularly vulnerable to hunger. The Great American Bake Sale is a national campaign in which volunteers hold bake sales to help end childhood hunger.

The Great American Bake Sale grants program will support efforts to increase participation among low-income children in summer and after-school meal programs. Share Our Strength is specifically interested in increasing participation in meal programs that utilize USDA reimbursement through the Summer Food Service Program, National School Lunch Program, or Child and Adult Care Food Program.

Two types of grants will be offered. Grants for Program Sponsors will be awarded to organizations that directly sponsor USDA-reimbursed after-school and/or summer meal programs for children. Grants will specifically support efforts to increase participation in the organization’s USDA summer and after-school meal programs. Grants for Advocacy will be awarded to organizations that work to increase participation in USDA-reimbursed after-school and summer meal programs through outreach and advocacy. Organizations engage in advocacy when they work with schools, community organizations, local businesses, and with a range of government officials to increase participation in summer and after-school meal programs. Both types of grants will range from $1,000 to $10,000 each.

Grants will only be provided to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, schools with a valid NCES code, or local government entities that work to ensure children have access to after- school and summer meal programs.

Grant applications will be accepted from June 1, 2009 to September 30, 2009. Visit the Great American Bake Sale Web site for complete grant guidelines.

Website: Link to RFP

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Name: VSA arts Accepting Applications for Teaching Artist Fellowships

Sponsor: VSA arts

Deadline: 4/24/2009

Amount: $1,000

Type: Arts & Culture, Education

Description: VSA arts is seeking applications from artist-educators for the Teaching Artist Fellowship, a program to identify, engage, and support outstanding teaching artists with disabilities in the visual and performing arts.

Benefits to selected Teaching Artist Fellows include program orientation and a professional development retreat designed especially for teaching artists; subscriptions/memberships within the teaching artist network (e.g., Teaching Artist Journal, Art Education, Teaching Theatre); networking and teaching opportunities in Washington, D.C. (stipend and travel costs included); and a stipend of $1,000 to support professional development or career goal objectives.

Teaching Artist Fellows will serve as facilitators for VSA arts educational efforts and will be profiled in VSA arts publications.

The program is open to artists with disabilities and experience working in pre-K-12 classrooms within the past three years. Applicants should demonstrate artistic achievement in visual or performing arts. (Note: This program is designed specifically for teaching artists. Classroom instructors are not eligible for the fellowship.)

Visit the VSA arts Web site for complete program information.

Website: Link to RFP

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Name: Target Stores Accepting Applications for Arts, Literacy, and Family Violence Prevention Grants

Sponsor: Target

Deadline: 5/31/2009

Amount: varies

Type: Arts & culture, Education, Social & Economic

Description: Target offers store grants to support nonprofit programs that impact the arts, early childhood reading, and family violence prevention in the locations where the company does business.

Arts Grants are awarded to programs that bring the arts to schools or make the arts accessible to children and families, such as school touring programs, field trips to the theater or symphony, or artist’s residencies and workshops in schools. Programs that make the arts accessible to school children are of particular interest.

Early Childhood Reading Grants support programs that foster a love of reading and encourage children, from birth through age nine, to read together with their families.

Family Violence Prevention Grants support programs that strengthen families and communities by keeping them safe. Target store grants support nonprofit programs that help prevent family violence, such as parenting classes and family counseling. Grants may also provide assistance for support groups and abuse shelters.

Most grants average between $1,000 and $3,000 each. Applicants may be 501(c)(3) organizations or schools, libraries, or public agencies.

Target only accepts grant applications online. Visit the company’s Web site for complete program guidelines and application.

Website: Link to RFP

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Name: ING Announces Grants Program for School-Based Running Programs

Sponsor: ING

Deadline: 6/1/2009

Amount: $2,000

Type: Education, Health, Social & Economic

Description: Global financial institution ING and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education have launched the ING Run For Something Better School Awards Program. The ING Run For Something Better program is a fundraising campaign that supports community and school-based youth running programs to help fight childhood obesity and introduce young people to the benefits of running.

The new awards program will provide fifty grants of $2,000 each to U.S. public schools that desire to establish a school-based running program or expand an existing one. The grant awards are available in all states to public elementary or middle schools whose running programs target fifth- through eighth-grade students. Schools must implement a minimum of an eight -week running program with a culminating event by December 31, 2009.

Program guidelines and applications are available at the Run For Something Better Web site.

Website: Link to RFP

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Name: United Methodist Church’s General Board of Global Ministries Women’s Division Offers Funding for Youth Violence Prevention

Sponsor: General Board of Global Ministries

Deadline: 7/1/2009

Amount: varies

Type: Social & Economic, Education

Description: The Women’s Division of the United Methodist Church’s General Board of Global Ministries offers grants of up to $4,000 each for projects and programs that address the needs of children and young people between the ages of 5 and 18 in the areas of violence prevention, anti-abuse, and relationship abuse.

Preference will be given to projects that significantly involve women and youth at the grassroots level, demonstrate the ability to raise additional funds from other sources, provide direct and comprehensive services to young people, promote respect for racial and ethnic diversity, and cultivate spiritual lives and values.

The Women’s Division funds small-scale, community- and church-based programs and projects. For this reason, groups affiliated with national organizations, hospitals, and organizations with budgets totaling more than $3 million do not normally receive funding. New and existing projects are eligible to apply.

Visit the General Board of Global Ministries Web site for complete program guidelines.

Website: Link to RFP

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Name: Ashoka’s Changemakers Invites Entries for Champions of Quality Education in Africa Competition

Sponsor: Ashoka

Deadline: 6/3/2009

Amount: $5,000

Type: International & Border, Education

Description: Supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Quality Education in Developing Countries Initiative has partnered with Ashoka’s Changemakers on a new Champions of Quality Education in Africa competition.

The goal of the QEDC Initiative is to improve learning outcomes for the very poor in India and selected countries in Africa. The initiative’s grantmaking in Africa is focused in six countries: Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The Champions of Quality Education in Africa competition seeks to identify entrepreneurial African educators – individuals or organizations – working to ensure that primary and/or secondary education students are successfully learning reading, writing, math, and critical thinking skills.

The competition is open to individuals and organizations (charitable organizations, private companies, or public entities) from all countries. Teachers, administrators, and education organizations are invited to submit their innovative and effective instructional methods, materials, or curricula. Nominations of education innovators are also invited.

Projects should be located in or have operations in Africa. Individuals or organizations from non-African countries must have local operations or African partners on the ground. Projects must indicate progress beyond the stage of idea, concept, or research. The competition seeks programs that have had a demonstrated impact on learning. At a minimum, entries should be at the demonstration stage and indicate success.

Entries may be submitted in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or French. Online competition submissions will be accepted until June 3, 2009. Entries that are submitted early may benefit from comments, questions, and insights from the Changemakers community. Submissions may be edited before the final deadline. A panel of expert judges and a team of Ashoka staff will select up to fifteen competition finalists. The Changemakers community will then vote online to select the three winners from these finalists. The three Changemakers Collaborative Competition winners will each receive a cash prize of $5,000.

Visit the Changemakers Web site for complete program information.

Website: Link to RFP

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Name: Dollar General Accepting Applications for Youth Literacy and Back-to-School Grants

Sponsor: Dollar General

Deadline: 5/22/2009

Amount: varies

Type: Education

Description: Dollar General annually offers support for youth literacy and school programs in areas served by Dollar General stores.

The Dollar General Youth Literacy Grants provide funding to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations to help with the implementation or expansion of literacy programs for students who are below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading. Grants range in amounts up to a maximum of $3,000 each.

The Dollar General Back-to-School Grants provide funding to assist schools in meeting some of the financial challenges they face in implementing new programs or purchasing new equipment, materials, or software for their school library or media center. Grants range in amounts up to a maximum of $5,000 each.

Applicants must be located in Dollar General’s 35-state operating territory and must be within twenty miles of the nearest Dollar General Store. (A store locator is available at the Dollar General Web site.)

Visit the Dollar General Web site for program information and application.

Website: Link to RFP

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Name: FINRA Investor Education Foundation Invites Applications for General Grant Program

Sponsor: FINRA Investor Education Foundation

Deadline: 5/6/2009

Amount: varies

Type: Education, Social & Economic

Description: Through its general grant program, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation funds research and/or educational projects that support its mission of providing underserved Americans with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary for financial success throughout life.

In 2009, the foundation is especially interested in applications that focus on using behavioral finance to improve saving and investing, meeting the financial and investor education needs of underserved audiences, creating new marketing and distribution channels for financial and investor education, and helping Americans manage their finances and investments in retirement.

The foundation places high priority on reaching and engaging a well-defined target audience, and encourages collaboration and strategic partnerships that facilitate effective marketing and distribution efforts. Successful education projects must have measurable impact and reach large audiences in a cost-effective manner. Preference will be given to projects that can be replicated and sustained beyond the term of the grant funding. For research projects, the foundation is especially interested in work that has practical applications in the financial and investor education field.

There is no set minimum or maximum grant amount. Projects should be completed within thirty-six months of the grant award.

Eligible applicants are nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and state and other public colleges and universities.

Visit the foundation Web site for complete program guidelines, application procedures, and examples of successful grant proposals.

Website: Link to RFP

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Name: Mellon Award for Technology Collaboration Invites Nominations of Open Source Software Projects

Sponsor: Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Deadline: 5/15/2009

Amount: varies

Type: Science & Technology, Education, Arts & Culture

Description: The Program in Research in Information Technology of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2009 Mellon Awards for Technology Collaboration.

The program is designed to encourage collaborative, open source software development within traditional Mellon constituencies – higher education, with a special emphasis on the arts and humanities; libraries and scholarly communications; the performing arts; the environment; and museums and art conservation.

The MATC awards recognize not-for-profit organizations that are making substantial contributions of their own resources toward the development of open source software and the fostering of collaborative communities to sustain open source development. To be eligible, a software development project must be in public release (not just development) as an open source project, with source code actually available. Project must include the development of intellectual property that is freely available to the academic community under one of the approved open source licenses.

Awards are given at two levels – $50,000 awards to recognize important organizational contributions to open source projects that currently or potentially provide significant benefits to at least one traditional Mellon constituency; and $100,000 awards to recognize highly significant contributions to open source projects offering larger benefits to more or larger constituencies. Multiple awards may be bestowed at each level.

Any organization that satisfies the Mellon Foundation’s criteria for receiving grants is potentially eligible, including qualifying non-U.S. organizations.

Visit the Mellon Foundation Web site for complete program guidelines.

Website: Link to RFP

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 2009 Youth Today Compiled by Erika Fitzpatrick >>

 Featured Grant *Grant: Early childhood reading – For programs, such as weekend book clubs and after-school reading, that foster a love of reading and encourage children from birth through age 9 to read with their families. Funder: Target. Eligibility: Schools, libraries and nonprofits. Deadline: May 31. Amount: $1,000 and $3,000 each. Contact: http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031821. >>

Arts Grant: Youth arts and learning – For participatory learning and student engagement with artists, teachers and excellent art in these categories: Access to Artistic Excellence, Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Fast-Track Review Grants and Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth. Funder: National Endowment for the Arts. Eligibility: Nonprofits, units of state or local government or federally recognized tribal communities or tribes. Deadline: June 11. Amount: A total of 600 grants ranging from $5,000 to $150,000. Contact: http://www.arts.gov/grants/apply/GAP10/LITA.html. >>

Child Welfare Grant: Child welfare – Projects that contribute to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual welfare of children and youth. Funder: American Legion Child Welfare Foundation Eligibility: Nonprofits. Deadline: July 15. Amount: Last year the foundation awarded $639,875 to 18 nonprofits. Contact: www.legion.org/cwf/?section=grantseekers.

Grant: Child abuse training for judicial and court personnel – To provide judicial, legal and social service professionals with the training and technical assistance needed to meet the challenges facing juvenile and family courts. Funder: U.S. Department of Justice. Eligibility: Public agencies. Deadline: May 19. Amount: $2.5 million for one or more awards. Contact: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/grants/solicitations/FY2009/CATJCP.pdf. >>

Civic Engagement *Grant: One-time exchange grants – Under a congressionally mandated “one-time” program, support for international exchanges that increase mutual understanding and build relationships, through individuals and organizations, between the people of the United States and counterparts in other countries. Proposals must respond to one specific theme under the program, including one targeting high school-aged emerging youth leaders. Funder: U.S. Department of State. Eligibility: Public or private nonprofits. Deadline: May 14. Amount: $3.9 million for 12 to 15 awards. Contact: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-8650.htm.

*Grant: Youth Ambassadors (South America and Mexico) – To recruit and select youth and adult participants to participate in three-week exchanges focused on civic education, community service and leadership, with follow-on projects in their home communities. Funder: U.S. Department of State. Eligibility: Public and private nonprofits. Deadline: May 28. Amount: Three awards of up to $3 million each. Contact: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-8745.htm.

Grant: Youth Leadership (Central America) – To recruit and select youth and adult participants in the seven countries of Central America and to provide the participants with three-week, U.S.-based exchanges focused on entrepreneurship and business skills, community engagement and leadership. Funder: U.S. Department of State. Eligibility: Public and private nonprofits. Deadline: May 28. Amount: $994,000 (one award). Contact: http://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html.

Grant: Youth Leadership Program – To bring teenagers ages 15 to 17 and educators from selected countries to the United States for three-week exchanges focused on developing leadership skills and civic responsibility. Funder: U.S Department of State. Eligibility: Public and private nonprofits. Deadline: May 21. Amount: $210,000 for two grants supporting five projects. Contact: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-7851.htm.

Grant: Project Ignition – For service-learning projects promoting teen driver safety. Funder: State Farm and the National Youth Leadership Council. Eligibility: Teams of students submit proposals. Deadline: June 30. Amount: 25 grants of $2,000 each; the best project earns $10,000 for the winning team. Contact: www.nylc.org/pages-programs-initiatives-Project_Ignition?oid=4968.

Grant: South Asia and Southeast Asia Youth Leadership – For conducting a 25-day U.S.-based exchange program for high school students and teachers from one of these regions. Activities will focus on civic education, leadership, diversity and community activism. Funder: U.S. Department of State. Eligibility: Public and private nonprofits. Deadline: May 14. Amount: $95,000 (one grant). Contact: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-6788.htm.

Grant: 2009-2010 Youth United urban grants – To help urban affiliates of Habitat increase capacity by engaging local youth. Funder: Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) and State Farm. Eligibility: Urban HFHI affiliates in good standing. Deadline: May 15. Amount: Five grants of $10,000 each. Youth United urban groups who received a grant in 2008-2009 are also invited to apply for one of three $4,000 follow-up grants. Contact: www.habitat.org/youthprograms/suppdocs/yu_matchinggrants.pdf.

Grant: Brower Youth Awards – To honor and support six young leaders in environmental and social justice advocacy. Funder: Earth Island Institute. Eligibility: North American young people ranging in age from 13 to 22. Deadline: May 15. Amount: $3,000 per award. Contact: http://www.broweryouthawards.org/article.php?list=type &type=12

 Education Grant: Educational partnerships – For innovative and promising ideas for teaching math and/or science skills, especially projects that deal with environmental education and energy. Funder: Dominion Foundation. Eligibility: Public and private elementary and secondary schools and public school divisions that are registered with the National Center for Educational Statistics, institutions of higher education, and nonprofits. Application is limited to select communities in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia. Deadline: May 1. Amount: A total of $300,000 is available. Contact: www.dom.com/about/education/grants/grants.jsp.

*Grant: State personnel development in education – To assist state educational agencies (SEAs) in reforming and improving their systems for personnel preparation and professional development in early intervention, educational and transition services for children with disabilities. Funder: U.S. Department of Education. Eligibility: SEAs. Deadline: May 29. Amount: Five grants ranging from $500,000 to $4 million. Contact: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-8522.htm.

*Grant: Education (territories and freely associated states) – To raise student achievement through direct educational services. Funder: U.S. Department of Education. Eligibility: Local education agencies in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Republic of Palau. Deadline: June 10. Amount: Four to six awards ranging from $800,000 to $1 million. Contact: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-7218.pdf.

Grant: Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) – To respond to growing demands in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Funder: National Science Foundation (NSF). Eligibility: All eligibility categories are spelled out in the NSF grant proposal. Deadline: Aug. 25. Amount: $35 million for 40 grants ranging from $300,000 to $5 million. Contact: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do? &mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=45733.

Grant: Wal-Mart state giving program – For projects in education, health and wellness, job training and the environment. Funder: Wal-Mart. Eligibility: Nonprofits. Deadline: Sept. 18. Amount: Minimum grants are $25,000. Contact: http://walmartstores.com/CommunityGiving/8168.aspx?p=8979.

Health *Grant: CVS/Caremark – For programs that include helping children with disabilities by encouraging public school to promote inclusion in student activities and for extracurricular programs and initiatives that give students greater access to physical movement and play. Funder: CVS/Caremark. Eligibility: Nonprofits. Deadline: Oct. 31. Amount: Up to $5,000. Contact: www.cvscaremark.com/community/our-impact/community-grants.

Grant: Quaker Go – Community projects to fight hunger. Funder: Quaker Oats. Eligibility: Residents of the 50 states and the District of Columbia who are 18 years of age and older as of March 9. Deadline: Monthly until July 31. Amount: 20 winners will be selected each month from April through August 2009 and will receive $500 (100 total winners will be selected). Contact: www.quakeroats.com/gohumansgo.

Grant: Local Funding Partnerships 2009-2010 – For projects designed to improve the health of vulnerable people in communities. Funder: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Eligibility: Independent and private foundations, family and community foundations, and corporate and other philanthropies. Deadline: Stage 1 brief proposals, July 7; stage 2 full proposals, Nov. 10. Amount: Up to 14 matching grants of $200,000 to $500,000 each. Contact: www.rwjf.org/applications/solicited/cfp.jsp?ID=20605.

Juvenile Justice *Grant: Field-initiated demonstrations in juvenile justice – To foster innovations and advancements in juvenile justice-related practice at the local, state and tribal government levels. Funder: U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention. Eligibility: Public agencies and private organizations. Deadline: May 26. Amount: Individual grants total up to $300,000 but the total number of awards planned is not listed. Contact: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/grants/solicitations/FY2009/FIDO.pdf.

Grant: Tribal youth program – For tribal efforts to prevent and control delinquency and improve the juvenile justice system for American Indian and Alaska native youth. Funder: U.S. Department of Justice. Eligibility: Federally recognized Indian tribes. Deadline: May 28. Amount: Up to $450,000. Contact: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/grants/solicitations/FY2009/TYP.pdf.

Life Skills Grant: Community economic development – For job creation and business development in low-income communities that are part of a broader strategy to arrest tendencies toward financial dependency, chronic unemployment and community deterioration in urban and rural areas. Education and training for at-risk youth is allowed. Funder: U.S. Administration for Children and Families. Eligibility: Community development corporations. Deadline: May 28. Amount: $29.1 million for 47 grants averaging $800,000 each. Contact: www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/HHS-2009-ACF-OCS-EE-0034.html.

Grant: Youth literacy – To implement or expand literacy programs for students who are below grade level in reading or are experiencing difficulty reading. Funder: Dollar General. Eligibility: Schools, colleges, public libraries and nonprofits in the company’s 35-state market. Deadline: May 22. Amount: Up to $3,000 each. Contact: www.dollargeneral.com/servingothers/Pages/youthliteracygrants.aspx.

 Mental Health Grant: Statewide family networks – To enhance state capacity and infrastructure to serve children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances and their families. Funder: U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Eligibility: Public and private nonprofits. Deadline: May 14. Amount: $420,000 for six grants of $60,000 each. Contact: http://samhsa.gov/grants/2009/sm_09_016.aspx.

Race/Ethnicity Grant: Preferred Communities – To support the resettlement of newly arrived refugees and to address the needs of special populations. Funder: U.S. Administration for Children and Families. Eligibility: Nonprofits, including faith-based and community organizations. Deadline: Feb. 24, 2010. Amount: 12 awards of $100,000 to $300,000. Contact: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do? &mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=41208.

Recreation Grant: GoGirlGo! – Recognizing high school teams that show community leadership by inspiring girls to get involved in sports and physical activities. Funder: Women’s Sports Foundation administers the program, which is sponsored by The Gatorade Company. Eligibility: School-, amateur-, community- and/or nonprofit-affiliated teams whose members are female, enrolled in 9th- to 12th-grade and residents of the United States, its territories or protectorates. Deadline: July 17. Amount: 20 grants of $2,500 each. Contact: http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/Content/Grants-And-Scholarships/Grants/GoGirl Go-Ambassador-Team-Awards.aspx.

Safety Grant: Recovery Act (stimulus): Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Local Formula Awards – For programs to prevent and control crime among adults and youths. Funder: U.S. Department of Justice. Eligibility: Units of local government. Deadline: May 18. Amount: Local allocations are online, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/recoveryJAG/recoveryallocations.html. Contact: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/recoveryJAG/JAGrecoveryLocal.pdf.

Substance Abuse Grant: Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act) – To prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth. Funder: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Eligibility: Public and private nonprofit grantees under the Drug-Free Communities program. Deadline: May 26. Amount: $1 million for about 20 awards of $50,000 each. Contact: http://www.samhsa.gov/Grants/2009/sp_09_007.aspx. ************************************************************************* The Promising Practices in Afterschool (PPAS) Listserv brings together the worlds of youth development, school-age care, and education. On the PPAS website, http://www.afterschool.org, you can search for promising practices and share your own good work with others to help build the field of afterschool.

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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 provides millions of dollars in potential supports for afterschool and summer programs. Don’t let this opportunity slip by. Programs provide critical supports to struggling kids and families, create good jobs and make a solid investment in our future workforce. Putting these funds to work now not only helps us today, but also better positions afterschool efforts for future funding.

Here is a quick tip sheet on resources to tap, and who to talk to about:
• Direct funding for programs
• Summer and school year youth employment
• AmeriCorps staffing help

1. Talk to your principal, superintendent, Title I Coordinator or other local education agency and school officials about applying Title I recovery dollars to afterschool and summer programs. An additional $13 billion is being distributed to local education agencies for programs under Title I. Support for extended learning, including afterschool, summer and year-long programs, is encouraged in the guidance on this funding. This is a great point to share. Give examples of how afterschool and summer programs can help close the achievement gap.
The Administration has made clear that recovery dollars should help fuel reform, and that afterschool and summer programming is part of a reform vision. The U.S. Department of Education has said that states using Title 1 funds toward reform are better positioned to be awarded additional funds through the “Race to the Top” and “Innovation” grant programs.

2. Contact your state’s Child Care Development agency about contracting to provide slots for school-age children.

3. Contact your local workforce investment board (WIB) or youth council about applying for funding to employ youth this summer. The Act provides $1.2 billion for youth services, and the Department of Labor strongly recommends using these funds to create jobs for low-income youth. In addition, afterschool program activities that include focus on conservation, parks and recreation may be eligible to participate in a $750M competitive green jobs grant.
Funds might be used for internships, hiring eligible youth as staff; or provide a range of services from tutoring to job training and leadership development.
NOTE: If the application window has closed, ask the WIB for a list of participating summer programs. Contact those sites about creating a partnership. Also ask the WIB about the timeline for applying for funds for fall 2009 programs.

4. Contact existing AmeriCorps grantees in your area about placing Corps members in afterschool programs. or to explore whether any current afterschool program staff could qualify as Corps members, and ease pressures to lay off staff due to tight budgets. Go to the Corporation for National Service website on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and click on “National Service In Your State” to see existing AmeriCorps grantees in your area.

5. Look into securing a VISTA Volunteer. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve as resources to help community organizations build up capacity. An additional 3,000 positions are available for new and existing sponsors. VISTA members are committed to a one year term of service. Apply directly to be a VISTA sponsor, or partner with local sponsors in your community to place a VISTA volunteer in your programs. Applications for VISTA grants are accepted throughout the year.

6. Reach out to your Mayor. Mayors have become very involved in ensuring that Recovery funds are being used to help their communities. Mayors also understand that afterschool programs can not only expand learning opportunities, but that they can help kids stay safe and healthy, and support struggling families. Reach out to your Mayor’s education policy staff and your city’s neighborhood and youth development staffs. Point out how afterschool can help a city meet today’s challenges while helping it build a strong foundation for tomorrow.

7. For more information, go to http://www.afterschoolalliance.org and http://www.afterschoolwiki.org for the latest news, official guidance, ideas and Q&A from the field about using recovery dollars to support afterschool programs

Additional Resources:
Summer Programming & Recovery funds: www.summerlearning.org
Dept of Education website on Recovery funds: www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/index.html
Dept of Labor Recovery site: www.dol.gov/Recovery
Corp for Nat’l Service Recovery site: www.nationalservice.org/about/recovery/index.asp
Data on public support, benefits of afterschool: See Research, www.afterschoolalliance.org

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